[RedDevils] QUEIROZ ... Becks fan
CARLOS QUEIROZ kicked off his first day in charge of Real Madrid by singing the praises of David Beckham. The new Bernabeu coach chose the Bruce Springsteen anthem Born to Run to sum up the strength of the England skipper and what he can bring to the Spanish giants. Former Old Trafford No2 Queiroz, who has signed a two-year contract, declared: "David is a brilliant professional, the type of guy who didn't miss one training session while I was at Manchester United. "He is born to run - and I say that because it's as if he's addicted to training and working, making himself fitter and stronger. "I like that ethic. And when people ask me whether having Luis Figo and David Beckham in the same team means that one of them will have to sit on the bench, then I answer that will only happen when one of them is injured or out of form." Portuguese star Figo currently occupies Becks' usual position on the wide right of midfield. And Queiroz, 50, hinted the time may have arrived for his £25million new boy to move to a more central position. Yahoo! Groups Sponsor -~--> Get A Free Psychic Reading! Your Online Answer To Life's Important Questions. http://us.click.yahoo.com/Lj3uPC/Me7FAA/ySSFAA/tsUolB/TM -~-> *** Reply to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe from the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[RedDevils] QUEIROZ ... praise for Ferguson
CARLOS QUEIROZ took control of Real Madrid yesterday and told Alex Ferguson: "I love you". The former Manchester United No2 will be David Beckham's new boss at the Bernabeu. But the Portuguese coach had tears in his eyes as he said: "This is the proudest, happiest day of my life and it's thanks to Alex Ferguson that I'm able to accept this great honour. "You can tell him that I love him. I went to speak to Alex personally about this opportunity and it was not a surprise to me that he told me to grab it. The former Manchester United No2 will be David Beckham's new boss at the Bernabeu. But the Portuguese coach had tears in his eyes as he said: "This is the proudest, happiest day of my life and it's thanks to Alex Ferguson that I'm able to accept this great honour. "You can tell him that I love him. I went to speak to Alex personally about this opportunity and it was not a surprise to me that he told me to grab it. "Alex Ferguson is football itself. No, that's wrong, he is more than football, he has a great sensitivity and humanity that people don't know about. "He is a gentleman and a fantastic person. I'm proud to call him my friend." QUEIROZ ... praise for Ferguson MORE STORIES Becks is runderful Silvestre raps flop guns Queiroz: Alex's my great hero By MIKE JEFFREY CARLOS QUEIROZ took control of Real Madrid yesterday and told Alex Ferguson: "I love you". The former Manchester United No2 will be David Beckham's new boss at the Bernabeu. But the Portuguese coach had tears in his eyes as he said: "This is the proudest, happiest day of my life and it's thanks to Alex Ferguson that I'm able to accept this great honour. "You can tell him that I love him. I went to speak to Alex personally about this opportunity and it was not a surprise to me that he told me to grab it. "Alex Ferguson is football itself. No, that's wrong, he is more than football, he has a great sensitivity and humanity that people don't know about. "He is a gentleman and a fantastic person. I'm proud to call him my friend." Real Madrid have now stolen two of United's major assets in the space of one week following Beckham's amazing £25million transfer. Even though Queiroz still had two years left on his contract at Old Trafford, it seems that United have allowed him to go without compensation. The new Real Madrid coach, 50, said: "Such things as this can only happen between two great clubs when there is respect and great dignity in the relationship. That is why we have been able to do these pieces of business with style. "I am here because this is the greatest club in the world. But I will bring this club many things which I learned at Old Trafford." Queiroz denied that he was inheriting Becks as his star player because the relationship between Fergie and the England skipper was in pieces. He said: "The words which Alex Ferguson used about David were like a father talking about his son. I was not aware of anything going wrong in that relationship." Yahoo! Groups Sponsor -~--> Get A Free Psychic Reading! Your Online Answer To Life's Important Questions. http://us.click.yahoo.com/Lj3uPC/Me7FAA/ySSFAA/tsUolB/TM -~-> *** Reply to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe from the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[RedDevils] GUNNERS FEAR VIEIRA OFFER THEY CAN'T REFUSE
United v Arsenal: The battle to prise £22m skipper from Highbury Wenger must decide whether it is now or never to sell his talisman By Martin Lipton, Chief Football Writer IF there is a prospect designed to send a shudder down the back of every Arsenal fan, it is the idea of Patrick Vieira leaving Highbury to join the club's bitterest rivals. Vieira, more than any of the other players Arsene Wenger has brought to North London, represents the heart and soul of the club the Frenchman has built over the past seven years. Losing the captain, to Manchester United of all teams, would be a signal that the ambitions that have driven Arsenal since the beginning of the Wenger revolution are over. No wonder, then, that Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein reacted with such speed to Mirror Sport's revelation that Sir Alex Ferguson is willing to launch a £22million raid for the midfielder. Dein insisted the captain is not for sale and so far he and Wenger have been able to head off all attempts to seduce Vieira away from Highbury, spurning the entreaties from United and Real Madrid over the past two years as the player's reputation has continued to soar.That has been done by a mixture of soft-talking and ego-massage, allied to Vieira's decision to dump agent Marc Roger in favour of Highbury's favourite representative, Jerome Anderson and his Sports Entertainment Media group. Yet with Vieira so far proving reluctant to sign the new deal that has been on offer for months, the reality is that the club may have to consider the inconceivable. With only a year left on his contract, Vieira knows all the cards are stacked in his favour. Unless he decides to put pen to paper, the Frenchman can sign a pre-contract agreement for a free transfer to the overseas club of his choosing on January 1. As the best holding midfielder in world football, Vieira is aware that his value has held up. Even in what is a receding global market he is one of the untouchables. Yet if he will not sign a new contract in the next few weeks, then Arsenal have to decide whether they should not cash in on the asset while they can. But it is impossible to believe that the Gunners would be willing to sell to United - whatever the offer. Dein, as much as Wenger, would not countenance the prospect of his captain replacing Roy Keane as the fulcrum of the Old Trafford side, a constant reminder of what the Gunners had let go. But if £22m were on the table from elsewhere, a figure that would dwindle away to nothing in just 12 months' time, the arguments in favour of cashing in grow swiftly. Wenger knows he has limited funds available this summer in the wake of the cash problems caused by the delays on the Ashburton Grove stadium project. That is why Arsenal are discussing a cash-plus-player exchange deal to land Harry Kewell from Leeds. If Wenger could be persuaded of the merits and exact a promise that any money raised by selling Vieira would be put into his transfer pot, that could see him bring in four or even five top-class players. Should Real be tempted again - and their desire to see Vieira in a white shirt has not been abated by the capture of David Beckham - Wenger could demand Claude Makelele as the relatively-inexpensive makeweight. In addition, Wenger would have the funds to bring in the central defender, right-back and goalkeeper that he has admitted are essential to challenge United for the title. Wenger has vowed once again this week that he will see out the remaining two years of his own Highbury contract, despite the interest of Real and other clubs. The French manager, though, could justifiably argue that he was being undermined if Vieira was allowed to go against his will. If he departed, then the other French musketeers - Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Sylvain Wiltord - will surely follow. Arsenal cannot allow that to happen. The hard talking begins now and Arsenal must be willing to bend as far as they can in order to ensure Vieira signs an extension until at least 2006. That might mean a private promise to the player that he will be allowed to go to the club of his choice that meets Arsenal's valuation if Wenger's side can neither recapture their Premiership crown next May nor reach at least the last eight of the Champions League. It is not a particularly good deal for the Gunners. But it is far better than the alternative. President Richard Nixon's advisor Chuck Colson explained US foreign policy in the early 70s in simple terms: "When you've got them by the balls, their hearts and minds will follow." Vieira has an iron grip on Arsenal. And he knows it. Yahoo! Groups Sponsor -~--> Get A Free Psychic Reading! Your Online Answer To Life's Important Questions. http://us.click.yahoo.com/Lj3uPC/Me7FAA/ySSFAA/tsUolB/TM -~-> *** Reply to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe to
[RedDevils] SIR ALEX: WE WANT VIEIRA
EXCLUSIVE: United plan £22m swoop for Gunner By David McDonnell SIR ALEX FERGUSON is ready to launch a staggering £22million bid for inspirational Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira. The Manchester United boss has instructed his board to make a formal offer for long-term target Vieira, right, who he tried to sign two years ago. Vieira has just one year left on his current deal and it is understood the Highbury board, while reluctant to lose their most influential player, feel they could not turn down such an offer. The signing of Vieira would represent the biggest transfer coup of modern times but it is one Fergie and the Old Trafford board feel they can complete following the sale of David Beckham. Fergie and the United board expect an initial hostile response in their attempt to sign the prized asset from Arsene Wenger's title rivals, but believe the size of the offer could clinch the deal. United will be able to finance it with money from the Beckham deal and the expected £14.2m transfer of unsettled midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron to Juventus. Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi has been in touch with United about Veron via his son, Alessandro, and a deal is expected to be concluded in the next fortnight. Vieira is known to have become disillusioned with Arsenal's lack of success in the Champions League and the lack of spending power. There are no such restrictions at United and Vieira knows he would almost double his current £60,000-a-week wages at a club who do not possess such a strict wage structure as Arsenal. United are ready to offer the 26-year-old a four-year deal. Only last season, Fergie made the bold claim that every player wanted to join United. "They all want to come here," he said. "Even Vieira wanted to come here a couple of seasons ago." With Roy Keane not the force of old, Fergie has been looking for a dynamic figure to command the centre of midfield. Yahoo! Groups Sponsor -~--> $50 - $100 gift card with digital cameras & camcorders $299 & up Now you can have the digital camera or camcorder of your dreams, and a gift card to put towards a future purchase. Excludes select models. http://us.click.yahoo.com/bHgiAD/FjRGAA/ySSFAA/tsUolB/TM -~-> *** Reply to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe from the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
